Not since Harry Potter's arrival on the literary scene in 1998, have readers of all ages flocked to a book series the way they are for Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. The young adult human-vampire love story is making waves in bookstores and libraries with readers of all ages anxious to get their hands on the next book.
The Twilight Series Novels
Twilight (2005), the first book in Stephenie Meyer's teenage vampire series, begins as an ordinary YA novel. Readers are introduced to star-crossed lovers Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, an average teenage girl and her vampire boyfriend. It has been a favorite among critics and recognized by The New York Times as their Editor's Choice and Publisher's Weekly as The Best Book of the Year. It has also been praised by parents for its lack of sexual content and strong language that is often prevalent in other popular YA books.
New Moon (2006) is the sequel to Twilight. New Moon picks up where Twilight ended, however, the mood of this novel is darker, focusing on Bella and Edward's separation and the truth behind fellow friend Jacob's identity is revealed. The decision behind the title is based on the darkest phase of the moon's cycle, which coincidentally marks Bella's darkest period as well.
Eclipse (2007) is the sequel to New Moon and the third book in the series. The novel centers on the decisions Bella has to make, primarily choosing between her relationship with Edward and her friendship with Jacob. It received mixed reception from critics and fans, with some upset at Meyer's character decisions in relation to Bella's human/vampire conflict.
Breaking Dawn (2008) is the fourth and final book in the Twilight series. It is told from Bella's perspective and according to Meyer it was heavily influenced by A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Midnight Sun is rumored to be a companion piece to the Twilight series and told from Edward's point-of-view. There is no scheduled release date, however, the first chapter of the novel is available for reading on Meyer's official website.
The Twilight Film Adaptation
Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Twilight novels, it was only a matter of time until they were adapted for the big screen. Twilight the movie, has a scheduled release date of November 2008 and will star Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, as Bella and Edward respectively.
About Stephenie Meyer
Stephanie's Meyer's first published book was 2005's Twilight. In addition to the four Twilight Saga books, she has also published a sci-fi novel for adults in 2008 called The Host. She is often noted for her Mormon background and her stories' universal appeal.
Will this series have the same impact on popular literary culture as Harry Potter? Only time will tell how readers and viewers will rate the longevity of the series. However, if the past is any indication, popular culture seems to be well receptive to all things vampire-esque (from Anne Rice to Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and die-hard Twilight fans seem eager to sink their teeth into anything with Meyer's name attached.
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